Diffusion Dynamics of Energy-Efficient Renovations by Matthias otto Müller
Author:Matthias otto Müller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg
5.3.2 Civil Society Actors
Environmental Non Government Organizations (NGOs)
Environmental NGOs are associations that promote the vision of a sustainable development. As they participate in the public discourse and the political process, they educate the general public and create awareness. And they attempt to influence legislation. In order to do so, they mobilize citizens, use the media to put pressure on the political system, and use their often profound expertise to influence policy initiatives. Some of the big environmental NGOs in Switzerland contribute their own energy strategy to the political process. Specifically, Greenpeace Switzerland, the Swiss Energy Foundation (SES), the Swiss Association for Transport and the Environment (VCS) and the World Wide Fund For Nature Switzerland (WWF) collaboratively commissioned a report (Elipson AG 2006) which provides solutions and strategies how to achieve an energy system compatible with their goals. As energy-efficient renovations are nested within the wider political agenda of environmental NGOs, they have a high interest in the diffusion of energy-efficient renovations (WWF 2010; Greenpeace 2010; SES 2010). However, environmental NGOs generally have no direct influence on the renovation of specific buildings. Yet through their activities, they contribute to the accelerated diffusion of energy-efficient buildings in an indirect manner.
Professional Associations and Interest Groups
A wide range of professional associations and interest groups can be found in Switzerland. The association of tenants or the two associations of building owners (Hauseigentümerverein, Hausverein) are examples of interest groups with a wide base. The Swiss Real-Estate Association (SVIT) or the building services association (suissetec) are examples of industry associations. Generally, such organizations charge membership fees and in exchange provide services to their members. They provide information and training, represent their members’ collective interests in the political process and establish industry-wide norms and definitions of good practice. Regarding the diffusion of energy-efficient renovations, associations generally have an important role to play, as they are gatekeepers for their members. When they promote innovations, they can substantially contribute to diffusion of energy-efficient building designs, either by informing and advocating innovations, or by supporting members to adopt innovative technologies. They therefore have a moderate influence on the diffusion of energy-efficient buildings in renovations. The interest an association or interest group has in energy-efficient renovations depends on the specifics of the organization.
Association of Engineers and Architects (SIA)
The Swiss Association of Engineers and Architects (SIA) represents about 2,500 organizations with about 11,500 experts in the domains of construction, technology and environment (SIA n.d.). It is a professional association that has both a high influence and a strong interest in promoting the diffusion of energy-efficient buildings. As one of my interviewees told me: “The SIA certainly has an influence... it is basically [responsible for] the norms we have here in Switzerland... and therefore it obviously has an influence.”
The Media
The media select and disseminate information to the greater public and in doing so provide a forum for public opinion. Several of my interviewees stated that the media create substantial pressure in support for energy-efficient renovations. The pressure arises from the communication of climate and
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